Review offering insight to the story:

"I know it's been said a lot of times already but I have to say it too, your story seems so... real. You are a truly gifted person because you belong to that small group of writers that can convey emotions so beautifully in what they write; I even envy you because of it. The relationship Hermione and Draco have is what most couples aspire to have but few ever do, a love-filled one. A relationship like that is often cliche and I don't care much for those kind of stories, but somehow, you wove words together so perfectly that it became so endearing and I can't help but love it. You make a fairytale relationship no longer a fanciful thought because you depict with such talent that you make it real, you make it a possibility in the eyes of many. I agree with Dumbledore when he said it and I agree when you made Hermione said it, the world needs love, and because of this story, you made people believe and agree with it to. I hope you update soon because I am sure the next chapter is just as beautiful as the ones before it." - Binx23 of FanFiction net.

-and-

"Oh, as fluffy as an overstuffed rabbit, but I love it all the same! ..." - SeanEmma4Evr of FanFiction net. (Laughed so hard when I started reading that review!)

Thank you to the following reviewers: waffenmac, dragoneyes5000, MsRisa, cmytaylor531, Patddsc, MiKaYGiRl (Michelle), Danielle, la009, AnaDry, quiet-mg, Jester08, Caligirl-HPLVR, mrs.draco.malfoy.2010, EmilyLovesYOU, Galleon-to-Galleon, Pheydre, MorgainneMoriancumer, Zarroc, bethygirl94, BlackDemonAngel, cemicool, avchocoholic, Steelo, wasu, Kirah, superdelly, Miss-Be-Haven, Atlanta, ebbe04, Itjskagirl127, lilmzhln18, Natural-181, ProperT, mskiti (x2), CrystalizedHeart, Binx23 and especially HIMluv, sarahyyy, xmisundazt00d, SeanEmma4Evr, Vincent's Angel of Chaos, laugh.live.learn (Rachel) and galloping-goose (Zeus).

Dedication: To mskiti, for being a constant reviewer and a loyal reader! Hope you enjoy this chapter, Melanie!

Secret Life

Chapter Nine

Draco's dreams were littered with memories of her. Old and new, from when he was just an ignorant boy to when he was a doting husband. They tore at his mind, pulling him farther into his intoxicating depression, and all the same gave him that little bit of her that he needed. That small sound of her voice, that ring of her cheerful laughter, that peer into her soul. It hurt and yet all the same, it was pure bliss.

He was leaning up against the stone wall, his head cocked to one side as a smarmy smirk sat on his handsome face. Being in sixth year had its advantages, there was only one year of students older than him, which meant there were five for him to easily taunt. Crabbe and Goyle stood on either side of him, their arms crossed and their ugly mugs curled with mean expressions. A group of third year Hufflepuff boys kept glancing at them with fear, each gulping and trying to feign courage as they walked past.

Goyle let out a growl, trying to scare them and proving right as they jumped a foot away from them. Some of them looked close to tears and he knew that they were whispering 'Death Eaters' as they ran off scared. Of course, none of the three bullies were, but their parents had the title. Draco wasn't about to correct them, to do so would prove that he wasn't as bowled over by the Dark Lord as most Slytherins were. He could care less really if his father was Voldemort's second hand man. Draco wanted nothing to do with it, he didn't want to participate in the war at all.

As another round of students came by, girls clutching each other while holding their chins high, pretending they weren't shaking, Crabbe stepped forward, his curled fist raising. A round of squeals broke out, and all three boys began laughing uproariously at the fit of pathetic girls.

"Leave them alone," came the distinct voice of Gryffindors own princess.

Draco turned to her with disdain, a smirk already appearing on his face. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the Bookworm," he mocked, glaring at her. "What brings you over to my part of the school? And without your bodyguards, too," he noted, his brow lifting.

She scoffed, looking nonplussed by his act of superiority. "You own nothing, Malfoy. If I feeling like slumming where you and your muscle boys roam around in packs, picking on children, I will. If only to remind you that you're being completely pathetic," she spat, her hands sitting firmly on her hips as she glared right back at him.

He had to admit, if only to himself, she was perhaps the bravest of all the Gryffindors. With a level head and quick wit, she took nothing from anyone. Were he not expected to hate her, he might even enjoy these little sparring matches. However, when a smile crept up, he forced it away. He was a Slytherin, and a Malfoy, there was no place for being amused with a muggleborn Gryffindor.

"Run along now, Granger, we wouldn't want you to soil that perfection of yours with our superior intelligence and strength. Merlin knows, you've spent far too much time with thickheaded, poor miscreants every year you've been here," he replied lazily.

Granger inhaled deeply, shaking her head at him with thinly veiled annoyance. "One day, Malfoy, one day you are going to realize that this act of being better than everybody else was pointless. Perhaps it'll happen before you do something royally stupid, but if not, then remember I warned you," she told him, turning with a mocking elegance. Her bush of hair flew over her shoulder, as her haughty steps away reminded him that she was, in fact, smarter, stronger, and far more courageous.

"Stupid mudblood," he muttered, feeling the insult held absolutely no hate at all. If anything, he sounded like he admired her. Crabbe and Goyle grunted, likely taking in his words, not the tone he used.

Draco turned onto his back, feeling like he was being trapped by the sheet around him. Her side of the bed was cool and empty, making him roll away from it quickly, finding refuge on his side. He turned so he didn't have to face where she wasn't laying.

His bleary eyes barely took in the form of Patti Longbottom as she sat in a chair, going through papers. She caught his gaze, smiled gently, and shook her head. "Get some sleep, Draco," she told him, her voice prodding and sweet.

He barely nodded, his eyes falling closed on him before he was swept away once more by his memories playing mean spirited tricks on him, showing him her only to take her away.

"Drink up, Granger, we're nearly at the corner and the coffee's getting cold," he told her, his arm comfortably around her waist as he held the tall foam cup out to her. She looked up at him, her cheeks pink with the cold morning air and her eyes radiating a sparkle to them.

She reached out, her hands covered in light blue mitts. She tried to get a handle on the cup but was incapable, so she grumbled under her breath and was about to pull them off. Rolling his eyes, he held the cup up to her mouth, tipping it back for her. "I told you those mitts would get in the way," he reminded, smirking.

She had assured him not three minutes prior that they wouldn't be a hindrance. After all, they were made to keep her hands cold in weather like this, who would make gloves that would force her not to use her hands? He had chuckled at her naivety, warning her that she wasn't going to be able to hold onto the coffee cup, but she was adamant, like usual.

Her eyes rose up to stare at him as she sipped the warm liquid, she rolled them when she noticed his brow was cocked at her. He brought the cup back from her mouth, downed the last gulp and tossed it into the garbage can as they passed.

"I know, I know, you were right," she told him, sighing. She sounded disgruntled and so he chortled at her mishap. She gave him a playful glare, before reaching her hands up and placing them on either side of his face, pulling him down close so she could press a warm, sweet kiss against his lips. "Isn't that better than cold hands?" she asked, rubbing her wool covered thumb against his cheeks.

"I concur," he told her, smiling before he leaned back in for another kiss. She tasted like vanilla and cream, warm and soothing. Her hands moved from his face until her arms were wrapped around his neck. He held her around her waist, his gloveless hands pressed against her back, not even feeling the biting air as he was consumed by her warmth.

She pulled back after a few minutes, "Work, school," she mumbled, licking her lips and staring at him with glazed eyes.

Grinning, he nodded, leaning into press a chaste kiss against her mouth. "Tonight, dinner at Pedro's Pizzeria, medium pepperoni with extra cheese and a jug of orange soda," he told her, walking backwards to cross the street as the light changed in his favor.

Smiling, she nodded, "Eight thirty, I'll be there," she told him.

"You better, I still have no grasp of Muggle money," he replied, laughing.

She chuckled, waving goodbye before she turned to make her way down the street toward the Healer Academy waiting to enlighten her already large brain. As Draco walked, he turned back on occasion, trying to get a small glance at her before she was completely out of sight. A warm sensation settled in his chest, making him smile like a fool the rest of the way to the office.

Draco rolled onto his side, his eyes fluttered lightly. He was almost sure he had caught sight of Elizabeth Granger's face. He had no idea what Hermione's mother would be doing in his bedroom, hovering over him, and so he shook his head of the thought. His eyes fell closed once more and he felt the sheet pushed over his shoulders. He didn't know if he grabbed it or not, but it was there. Not a moment later, he was back asleep.

A warm breeze slipped through the open window, skittering over his bare back as he leaned up on one elbow, watching as she slept peacefully beside him. She was laying on her stomach, her face directed toward his, eyes closed and her long hair scattered out around her. Rolling curls tumbled over the sheets, down her bare back, across her upturned arm. The sheet settled down by the small of her back, leaving her creamy skin wide open for him to admire.

He picked up one of her long curls, wrapping it loosely around his finger and then letting its natural bounce pull it away. He could feel the goofy smile on his face and told himself how utterly infatuated he was with the once nerdy, uptight Gryffindor. She had settled down some, still reading as often as possible and putting all of herself into her work. However, now she made time to go out most nights, to spend time with just him, be it at their favorite Pizza joint or taking a stroll in the park nearby, where he'd toss her into the piles of fall leaves just to watch her pick them from her long, wild hair.

In the past, he had only ever seen her as a hindrance, someone he had to be careful around. But now he found her to be his most treasured confidant. He found himself speaking freely, thinking out loud, laughing at anything he found funny, enjoying himself in situations he previously had to pretend were not amusing or fun. He fell in love and it had completely blind sided him.

Her features had softened some, though he might be a bit swayed by the fact that he got to touch her. Her hair had tamed to less of a bush and became more of a wild mane of soft curls, which smelled faintly of vanilla. Without her robes covering her every curve, he found her body was slim, with smooth hips and soft turns. He had fun exploring her every crevice, the rounded edges of her legs, the turn of her sides, and the curves and dips of her back, stomach, and various other appendages his hands found enticing.

Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to the center of her back, his palm gliding down her side, taking in her silken skin. She stirred but didn't fully wake up. Moving up slowly, he pressed kisses to the span of her shoulders. His fingers brushed over her arms, moving her hair from her back. Blonde strands of is hair dangled down by his face, running across her skin with him. She shivered and he could see from where he was laying that her toes were curled beneath the sheet.

Nibbling up the back of her neck, he teased her skin with his tongue before blowing cool air over the damp area, making her skin tingle. She made a soft noise, her legs moving restlessly against the bed, before she finally turned over, smiling up at him sleepily. She reached up, running her hands through his hair and dragging him down to kiss her properly.

His mouth slanted against hers, tasting her sweet flavor with his dueling tongue and grazing her lips with his teeth. She made a happy noise from the back of her throat and he moved away from her mouth, trailing down her cheek and burrowing himself against her neck, smiling as she giggled. Her hand danced down his neck, pressing into his back and pulling him closer.

Moving sideways so his chest was overlapping hers, he lifted his head to stare down into her eyes. "Hi," he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the tip of her nose.

"Hey," she breathed, smiling up at him. "See, these are the merits of living together," she told him, nodding.

"This was a regular thing when you had your own apartment," he reminded, lifting his brow, amused. "However, my bed is much more comfortable."

Chuckling, she shook her head. "Only because I'm in it. Half the time when we were at my apartment you didn't make it past the living room." Her brows lifted with emphasis, while her eyes stared up through her dark lashes.

"You had a nice couch," he said with a shrug and a smirk. "In fact, I think we should trade mine in and take yours. It has a lot of... memories," he said, a devilish glint in his eyes.

Rolling her eyes, she tipped her chin, capturing his mouth for another kiss. "I think... we should... stay home... this morning," she told him, in between embracing his mouth as she had frisky thoughts and enticing ideas.

Draco mock gasped, smirking at her as he lifted his brow. He pulled back, panting slightly as she began trailing her mouth down his neck. "You want to stay in today? My, my, Miss Granger, I do believe I've become a bad influence," he told her, sighing. "What will your professors think?"

"They'll assume," she began, moving her leg until she had flipped him over, "that I'm being throughly ravaged, Mr. Malfoy." Grinning, she leaned in, her hair running over his stomach, causing it to tighten in tantalizing surprise. "Are you up to the challenge of proving them right?" she asked, her voice seductively low.

"I think so," he said confidently, his mouth lifting with a devilish grin. She giggled as he reached up for her, pulling her closer and running his hands down her back to where the sheet still covered, throwing it off and opening her skin to the cool breeze. He was more than able and willing to prove all accusations that she had been at home all morning being shagged mindless, completely and utterly true.

Draco heard a buzzing in his ears and felt a clawing behind his eyes. He was still restless and wanted to both wake up and go back to sleep. Seeing her, feeling her, was almost too much. It was mocking him, his own mind was being devious and cruel. He felt the breeze coming through the open window near her side of the bed and it made him groan with a burst of anger. He wanted to get out of bed and close it but his mind was too tired to let his body move. Before long his eyes had closed and he was dragged back into his memories.

The sound of glass shattering echoed through the air. "Draco," she called, her voice frantic and scared. "Oh Merlin," she shouted.

"What? What's wrong?" he asked worriedly, coming running into the kitchen of their house. His eyes were wide and his shirt hung open as he had been dressing for work. She was doubled over, her hand beneath her protruding belly. "Uh, Hermione, are you... Are you?" he looked down and then up, his gaze widening.

"Yes, yes, I'm having our baby," she told him, her voice tight but still happy. "S-St. Mungo's, Draco, w-we have to g-go," she told him, lifting her head and trying her best to stand upright.

Nodding, he turned around and hurried upstairs to the bedroom, grabbing the bag of stuff she had gathered for this exact moment. He came back down to the main floor, his eyes moving around frantically. "Do we... I mean, flooing would be bad, so apparition, right?" he asked, scared and unsure.

She nodded quickly, her face flushed and her jaw clenched. "Yes, apparition isn't bad for the baby. It's said that the baby is so connected to the mother that it's not really a side-along, though some Healers disagree," she told him, her breathing picking up.

Draco hurried over to her, wrapping his arm around her back and slipping the bag over his shoulder. He was suddenly very thankful that they had taken the apparition wards down recently, just in case there was an emergency with the baby. Even though it left them feeling a little less protected, it came in very handy just about then. "Well this is still technically side-along, since I don't think you could do this on your own," he told her, feeling sweat break out on his forehead. He was unbelievably scared he wouldn't think right and they'd show up in Diagon Alley or something.

"Yes, but it's not side-side-along, because she's inside me and we have a connection," Hermione told him, sounding slightly hysterical. "Let's go, please. I don't think... OOOHHHH," she groaned, her hand wrapping around his and squeezing tightly. "You... You can do this," she said, nodding as she began her breathing exercised of, "he he hoo, he he hoo."

Draco bobbed his head up and down in agreement but his insides had twisted up with fear. Closing his eyes tightly, he thought as clearly as he could of St. Mungo's hospital. Letting out a painfully thankful sigh when he found himself at the right destination, he let his fear melt away some. He still had a scared looking pregnant woman beside him, waiting to give birth to his little girl.

He helped her through the reception area, knowing exactly which part of the hospital he was supposed to be going. He had notified a nurse while he walked that Healer Granger was in labor and she'd be in room O-214, waiting for Obstetrician Healer Fielding. He helped her onto the bed, all the while listening to her serious and broken up instructions.

Two nurses were aiding him help her, both watching him with surprised fascination. Everybody who would be present knew that it had to be kept completely secret that Draco was the father of Hermione's baby, and that he was her husband. Very few people knew to begin with and Hermione had worried about him coming to the hospital with her, but he wasn't budging on the idea of being in the room when she gave birth.

After she was settled, Draco stood beside her, his feet moving back and forth anxiously. His hand was wrapped around hers and she stared up at him with teary eyes and a flushed face. She smiled, tears running down her cheeks as she made whimpering noises and kept up with her breathing. "This is hard," she whispered, "I thought... I thought they were just being oversensitive," she admitted, shaking her head. Her arm lifted, the back pressing against her forehead. "They weren't," she told him, inhaling shakily.

"I can't say I know it hurts, but it looks like it does," he offered, his eyes scanning over her with worry. "Do you need anything? Do you want some more ice chips? Are you thirsty? Cold? Hot? Uncomfortable? Should I get the Healer?" he asked, frantically.


She gave out a small chuckle, sniffling and shaking her head. "I love you Draco Malfoy," she told him, smiling adoringly up at him.

He felt himself relax some, squeezing her hand and nodding. "And I love you, Hermione Malfoy," he replied, his voice soft.

She let out a sharp cry, her hand clenching his. "THE NEXT CHILD WE HAVE IS COMING OUT OF YOU!" she screamed, her face tightening with the pain.

"I think that's medically impossible," he said in a strangled cry as he fell to his knees from the pressure she was putting on his hand.

"I don't care," she yelled, whimpering as she shook her head.

"Okay, okay, the next one's mine, got it," he told her, nodding quickly and hoping she was going to let up on his hand.

She relaxed some, letting out a tired sigh and moving her head back and forth as she looked up at him through half lidded eyes. "Don't be preposterous Draco, men can't have babies," she told him, looking as if he had just said the most ridiculous thing.

"Of course, dear," he replied, sighing. "What was I thinking?" he wondered, lifting her hand to press a kiss to the back of it.

She patted his cheek, her thumb brushing against his skin. "Labor does odd things to people," she told him, as if trying to make him feel better for his folly.

"Really? I had no idea," he said, threading his fingers with hers and hoping the healer would arrive soon. He wanted to see his little girl, and he was fairly sure his hand would be broken by the time she arrived in this world. He grinned, reaching out with his other hand and rubbing it against Hermione's stomach.

"You're going to be a great father," Hermione told him, resuming her breathing exercises.

Draco nodded, feeling a worry enter his mind but disappear just as soon as he felt a kick beneath his palm. He looked up at Hermione, watching her worriedly because of her distressed expression and the way her cheeks puffed out as she continued to breathe the way the Muggle books told her to. She would be a wonderful mother, he had no doubts. Together, they would be incredible parents. Rowena had no idea how special she was, how much she was already loved, how strongly her parents were going to care for her.

Draco woke up to hear voices outside of his room. His mind cleared enough to remember what had happened. Blaise and Neville must've moved him to his bed after he had his minor breakdown. The first thing he noticed was how large and empty it felt in his and Hermione's king sized bed. He stared at the opposite side where his wife usually slept, his eyes wide and burning. His shaking hand reached out, landing on the cold, bare white sheet where her body used to rest.

"What's wrong? Does he need to go to St. Mungo's?" asked a soft, feminine voice Draco knew to be Ginny.

"No, he's okay, it's--" Patti began to reply.

"Okay?" asked a loud, booming voice Draco immediately recognized as his father-in-law's. "My God, girl, have you seen him? He is not okay! Liz! Liz! This doctor here says that Draco is okay!" Bill shouted incredulously.

"Shh, shh," Ginny bellowed with annoyance, "You'll wake him, and Merlin knows that he needs to rest. If Patti says he's okay, then he's okay. Right?" she asked, uncertainly.

There was a sigh that Draco decided was Neville's wife's, before she spoke, "I think he had a panic attack. He was just overwhelmed and tired. We all know how close he and Hermione are, how often they're together. He hasn't had her with him in five days, this isn't shocking. He's hurting right now and his body is just sort of shutting down. It's not lethal. He just needs some time to adjust."

"Adjust? Adjust to what?" came Elizabeth's scared voice. "My baby girl is going to come back and when she does Draco is going to feel better," she exclaimed.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Granger, I didn't mean to imply that Hermione's not okay. I just... I meant that he needs to adjust to not having her until she comes back," she explained, sounding severely remorseful. "He's not sleeping well, I don't think he's eating much, and he's getting a little... well, aggressive. Not physically, but his personality is becoming a little more volatile lately. I think it's just a defense mechanism that comes out when he's scared," she told them.

Draco couldn't help but notice she was using a business tone, sounding much like Hermione did when she was stating something she had read from one of her medical tomes. It was somewhat reassuring to hear her sound so confident in her knowledge and he knew Hermione would be proud of her. He nearly smiled, but felt a grimace cover his tired face instead. He had become the patient, when before he had been the husband of a healer, listening to the sad cases she had to deal with. He never thought he'd be one of those cases.

"He has nothing to be scared of, Hermione is fine. She's coming back to him, to all of us," Bill told her, his voice shaking though he tried to sound strong.

Draco sighed, rolling onto his back and staring up at the roof. He wondered what Blaise and Neville were doing and hoped they were still working on finding Hermione. His temples throbbed with a headache and his throat was dry and raw from his earlier screaming fit. He wanted to go back to sleep and yet he didn't want any more time to pass.

"Oh, Rowena hunnie, come away from the door," Molly Weasley's voice could be heard saying. It seemed everyone had been brought over in the event of his break down. "Your daddy needs his rest, dear, leave him be."

"But I want him," Winnie replied, her voice tearful. "Mummy will come back soon, daddy's bringing her to me. He's sad now, without mummy, but I can help him," she told them, sounding forlorn but sure.

Draco hated hearing how desperately upset she was, how she wanted to make him feel better while at the same time needed him to help her. It was true that she seemed to be the only one he wasn't easily annoyed with, but seeing her always made his chest ache. The way she'd ask for her mum or look up at him expectantly, waiting for him to say she would be home any minute. It was hard to listen to, to see in her sweet face.

"Maybe later, okay Rowena?" asked Ginny. "You dad is really tired. You know how that is, right? So can you let him sleep for now, and when he wakes up we'll come and get you, all right?" she offered.

It was the uncertain hope in her voice that was her downfall, his daughter would immediately zero in on her hesitancy and know that something wasn't right. Perhaps if she had been more strict and sounded as if she wasn't going to yield to Winnie, she would've been able to stop her, but Draco knew what was coming now.

"No," she wailed. "I want my daddy, right now! He's not feeling good and his eyes are really, really red. Mummy would want me to make him feel better. Mummy's a healer and she told me... She said, 'Winnie you take care of daddy when he's sick, okay?' And I said I would!" she told them, hiccuping through her words while her voice came out pleading and dejected.

There was a rattling and Draco knew she had gone for the door handle, deciding to bypass asking for permission and to simply go straight to her source. She knew her dad wouldn't send her away and so she was going to get to him before they could stop her. He stayed waiting in his bed, wondering if they'd stop her or if she'd make it inside. He didn't know which one he wanted to happen.

"Winnie, please," Ginny pleaded. "Your dad is so tired, he doesn't need this right now." There was a shuffling before the turning of the knob stopped and he knew they had pulled her away. He closed his eyes tight, his brow knitting.

"NO! No, I want my daddy," she sobbed, and the loud stomping he was sure was from her banging her feet on the floor. Rowena nearly never had temper tantrums, she had no reason to. So she only did it when she was scared, worried, or on the rare occasion when Draco made her have a bath because she'd been playing in the mud by the creek.

Throwing the sheet off of himself, Draco crossed the bedroom, pulling the door open with a bit too much strength and walking over to pick up his now calming daughter. There were still tears streaming down her cheeks, but she had brightened upon seeing him. Ginny had been doing her best to soothe her, trying to rub her back and slowly move her to her bedroom so her crying wouldn't wake Draco up.

Bending down so he was in front of her, Draco reached out and wrapped a hand around both of her sides, lifting her until she was standing up, face to face with him. She sniffled, her chin lifting with each thick inhale through her small, button nose. Her mouth was open a bit and her chin shook while she stared out at him. One of her small hands came up to touch his face, her little fingers moving up to sit beneath his eye. "Daddy, you're really sick," she whispered sadly.

"I know, doll," he replied, his voice scratchy. He ignored the group of people around him, though he could feel their eyes watching him. Hermione's parents were off to the side, and he could hear Liz's sniffling. He had seen Ginny's worried face when he picked Rowena up from in front of her. Patti had been standing nearest the door, but he hadn't caught her expression. Molly Weasley was beside her, likely just waiting to tell him to go back to bed.

"Mummy would make you sleep and she'd make you soup and then she'd kiss your forehead, wouldn't she daddy?" Winnie asked, lifting up on her tiptoes to press her lips against his forehead in an affectionate hope that she was helping.

Draco's eyes fell closed, silent tears slipping out and down his cheeks. "Yeah," he told her, hoarsely. "That's what mum would do." When he opened his eyes again, he found Rowena crying too.

"Daddy," she whispered, her hands moving to wipe away his tears, "Is mummy okay?" she wondered, her nose wrinkling with fear.

Draco, unable to speak, nodded quickly, swallowing the pain in his throat. His eyes fell, staring at her small chin as he tried to gather his voice to reassure her. His thumbs brushed over her shirt, when she was a baby rubbing her sides used to soothe her into sleep. It worked when she was sick, but not usually any other time.

"Are you?" she queried, reaching out and lifting his head with her hands so he was looking at her again. "You don't look okay, daddy." She brushed her hands over his hair, her lip coming out. "I'm scared."

Draco broke then, pulling her against his chest and turning his face down so it was against her shoulder. He breathed raggedly, trying to inhale gusts of air but finding his lungs hardly filled. "I know," he replied, his body shaking as he hugged her against him. She began quivering with tears, her arms wrapped around his neck tightly. "Me too," he whispered into her hair.

After a few minutes, he calmed himself enough to stand up. Avoiding everybody's gaze, he walked into his bedroom, bringing Rowena over and laying her down on her mother's side of the bed. He crawled in beside her and stroked her hair as she cuddled up against him and cried herself to sleep. His eyes stung, silent tears falling down his face and rolling onto his arm propped beneath his head and the pillow. He hadn't shut the door, so he could still hear the murmur of concerned voices. He heard soft footsteps and didn't bother turning to see who was crossing the room to him. His eyes only moved up when he felt the person leaning over him.

Hermione's mother Elizabeth stood beside him, her eyes filled with sorrow. She reached out, brushing her hand over Winnie's sleeping face before turning her attention to him. Leaning down, she pressed a motherly kiss to his forehead, moving his bangs off his face. Her knuckles stroked his cheek, and he was reminded of how welcoming she'd always been as his mother-in-law. It was her daughter who was missing and here she was making him feel better, he didn't know how to voice his gratitude.

"I know," she whispered, her voice shaking. "She'll come back to us, Draco," she assured, nodding slowly. "Now sleep, son, it won't do you any good to be a mess. You'll find her, I know you will."

A/N Sorry for the wait! This chapter was pretty emotional. Quite hard to write, actually. Draco has such a strong personality that it's sometimes hard to get his fear and sadness, but I did my best and I hope it's well portrayed. I love his interaction with Winnie in this chapter. That she's trying so hard to help him. I'll try and update soon!

Thank you for reading! Please leave a review, it's greatly appreciated!
Much Love,
-Amanda